Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.

I agree with all that's been said so far. We lived there for about a year and a half, and was told to get out while we could by my father-in-law. He's been stuck there and hasn't been able to get an above average salary (i.e. above $12-14/hr.) for over 15 years. He and I both have 4 year degrees but neither of us could get above what I mentioned before. My wife and I got out and I'm doing well enough that my wife can stay home with our daughter.
I don't know what it is about the town of Tucson, but it just doesn't pay well. It might be because it's not very growth-friendly. But, all the same, I would recommend staying away unless you get a job from Raytheon or something like that.

limaco, I feel sorry that you have had such a negative experience of Tucson. As someone who has bounced around a lot, I am fascinated that you managed to stay 15 years in a place you obviously feel so odious towards. I just have to inquire - why would you stay, if it is so awful for you?

There is a big, wide world out there and no doubt places that suite each of us better than others. (Ultimately, or eventually, though, I do see that each individual has to reconcile the place where they live and look for what they do love in it...)

well said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

I moved here four years ago with relatives and friends here saying, "You won't have any trouble getting a job; Tucson's growing like crazy!" A YEAR LATER I finally got hired, and within two years the company I was working for went bankrupt. And I could see it coming a mile away since the management was so terrible. I can't afford to leave since I bought a home that has lost approximately $75,000 in "value" since I purchased it. I'm now trying to get retraining for a medical job since that's the only kind of work there seems to be in Tucson.

Zippy7fo, if you want to pay $300,000 for a house you can purchase mine.

unfortunately tucson has been hard hit by the recession, and with current city government, it will take longer to recover. unfortunately pima county has become rather liberal in the last 15 years, but i am hoping that things change for the better in the near future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvad242

I agree with all that's been said so far. We lived there for about a year and a half, and was told to get out while we could by my father-in-law. He's been stuck there and hasn't been able to get an above average salary (i.e. above $12-14/hr.) for over 15 years. He and I both have 4 year degrees but neither of us could get above what I mentioned before. My wife and I got out and I'm doing well enough that my wife can stay home with our daughter.
I don't know what it is about the town of Tucson, but it just doesn't pay well. It might be because it's not very growth-friendly. But, all the same, I would recommend staying away unless you get a job from Raytheon or something like that.

arizona in general, being a right to work state, has lower wages than union states do. however the cost of living is generally lower here than in other states as well. wages are increasing here though, as the cost of living goes up. the big problem is that arizona tends to be a non business friendly environment, taxes are a bit too high, and some regulations are too restrictive on business.

arizona in general, being a right to work state, has lower wages than union states do. however the cost of living is generally lower here than in other states as well. wages are increasing here though, as the cost of living goes up. the big problem is that arizona tends to be a non business friendly environment, taxes are a bit too high, and some regulations are too restrictive on business.

Dude.... Help me out here! I keep hearing from people on this forum that Tucson and AZ in general has "high taxes" and an "unfriendly" business environment. I'm baffled by this because AZ has some of the lowest income taxes and ranks 30th of 50 in property taxes. I'm also perplexed because AZ is a Republican state, mostly, and one of the main Republican mantras seems to be keeping taxes and regulations as low as possible. And on top of that - where is AZ's high sales tax going??? Of all the states I've been in - you appear to get very very little for your tax dollars, in AZ. So what gives? Forgive my ignorance and help me understand, if you can!

Dude.... Help me out here! I keep hearing from people on this forum that Tucson and AZ in general has "high taxes" and an "unfriendly" business environment. I'm baffled by this because AZ has some of the lowest income taxes and ranks 30th of 50 in property taxes. I'm also perplexed because AZ is a Republican state, mostly, and one of the main Republican mantras seems to be keeping taxes and regulations as low as possible. And on top of that - where is AZ's high sales tax going??? Of all the states I've been in - you appear to get very very little for your tax dollars, in AZ. So what gives? Forgive my ignorance and help me understand, if you can!

Thanks people!

a lot of the problem is waste in government. remember that arizona has not always been a republican state with regard to the legislature, and tucson in particular has had a lot of democrats on the council for many years now. during napolitanos rein as governor, there were a number of big spending social programs put in place that need to be eliminated because we just cant afford them. and again tucson is the same way. the democrat run council has done many things that cost a lot of money to do, but we get very little from them. it also doesnt help that the county board of governors is also primarily democrat here in pima country. with the sales tax rate in tucson about to go up to nearly 10%, and with property taxes going up, and with the city boards seemingly trying to keep business out with the rules, regulations, and zoning requirements, it makes for a hostile atmosphere for business. back in the 70's things were much easier on business when republicans held the majority.

I've been here in Tucson for 15 years now and NOTHING in my life has gone in an upward direction since! The pay is HIDEOUS here and there is nothing worth doing more than 3x's! You move here.. you get stuck here and can't get out because you can never find a decent paying job. I have met multiple people that completely agree with me. I came from NY and Miami, FL and this was the biggest mistake of my life!

My wife and I are starting to realize this. I moved out here 2.5 years ago, and from a financial/professional standpoint, it really ended up not being such a wonderful move. I'm going to use this opportunity to take a few classes at the U of A and re-tool my career, then we're both getting out of here (hopefully).

They have also controlled the AZ Senate for that same period with only a couple of very short-lived exceptions.

that may be true, but remember for a number of years in the late 90's through the mid 2000's there were many republicans that were/are RINO's, and they tended to vote as democrats would on many social issues.

I agree with Tucsondesertdweller, liamco and Jukesgrrl expect for the cost and location of home sales. Since the market has taken a nosedive, there are many nice 3-4 bdrm homes in nice areas now between $100k - 200k. You won't have much land or live in the foothills, but the homes are nice. I moved here in 2005 making 52K and I'm out of work for the third time. In all my years back east I was never unemployed. I've had 2 jobs eliminated and I've been terminated during corporate re-engineering. I've had 3 jobs in 6 years. My savings is gone and I may end up foreclosing. Wish I had seen it coming. The only thing I like here now is the climate (I'm on my patio writing this, I think it's near 80 today) and I'm very willing to move out of this state. Wages are low, but housing is low too. We have the lowest gas prices in the country, food prices are good, but I pay the same car insur prices and taxes as I did back east. They get you one way or another. This is a 'right-to-work-state'. Tranlated I call it 'the right-to-be-poor-state". Working here is very very different. Being a professional helps, but if you're the average worker it will be tough.

Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.